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This grand capital of the ancient world was an idea, a vision; that today can be touched and seen throughout modern day Rome. The eternal city has been one of the focal points of European civilization for more than two millennia and is the world’s biggest open-aired museum. Although today you may be horrified at the traffic, pollution and overcrowding of this city, its history and culture still thrives. So while in Rome...sit back and enjoy the Roman lifestyle that defies all rules, schedules and norms of social conduct; take an hour long siesta, eat one of the many scrumptious varieties of pasta or sip a fine wine in one of the city’s splendid squares.

Ancient Romans believed their city had been founded on 21 April 753 BC, and more recent archaeological discoveries pretty much back this up. According to myth, the city was founded by the twin sons of Mars, god of war, and Rhea Silvia, princess and vestal virgin. The twins, Romulus and Remus, were abandoned on the shores of the Tiber and brought up by a she-wolf. Romulus killed his brother in a battle over who should govern, and then established the city of Rome on the Palatino.

Much of the inner core of Rome is traffic free so walking is always a good option, and as usual the best way to really soak up the atmosphere. The Metropolitana (Subway) is the fastest means of transportation in Rome and a convenient way to visit the major attractions. It has two underground lines, A and B, both of which go through Termini. But try to avoid them in peak hours. The city bus company is ATAC, and most of the main buses terminate at the bus station outside Stazione Termini where you can get a map of the bus routes. Buses run from around 6am to 12am, with some services running throughout the night. Tickets are cheap and can also be used for the Metro.

The Vatican State is the smallest independent State of the world, enclosed in Rome and ruled by the Pope. The opulence of the Holy See (Vatican City) can not be described; one of the richest countries in the world, its lavish display of wealth is quite arrogant and overbearing actually. St. Peter’s Basilica is said to be built over the tomb of the crucified saint, originally erected by Constantine, the present structure is Renaissance and Baroque style. Inside, the church is jammed full of monolith like structures, sculptures and artworks but the best sight is the climb to Michelangelo’s dome which towers at about 115m and gives sweeping views over the city. The Vatican Museum is one of the most important museum complexes in the world, a Mecca for art lovers, divided into numerous splendidly arranged sections containing masterpieces by the greatest artists, which were collected or usually commissioned by Popes through the centuries since they were the only people with money. These sections are infinite including everything and everyone from the Egyptians, Etruscans, Chiaramonti, Tapestries, Sculptures, etc.. Not to be missed are the Sistine Chapel with one of the most beautiful frescoed ceilings in the world by Michelangelo, the rooms frescoed by none less than Raffaello and the Gallery of the Maps.

Capitoline Hill is the highest of the seven hills of ancient Rome. In the Middle Ages the Capitol remained the political centre of Rome and the centre of municipal government in modern Rome is on the same location. The piazza was designed by Michelangelo in 1538. It is bordered by three buildings (also by Michelangelo): the Palazzo Nuovo and the Palazzo dei Conservatori, which together house the Capitoline Museums, and the Palazzo Senatorio at the rear. The Capitoline Hill is especially beautiful at night, when it is usually deserted.

Built over 900 years, the Roman Forum was the political, economic, and religious centre of ancient Rome, the site of temples, tribunals and other buildings used for public and private business until the 4th century AD. The importance of the Forum declined along with the Roman Empire. The Forum is entered from the piazza leading from the Colosseum. You immediately enter another world; columns rise from grassy hillocks, triumphal arches crumble under your touch, statues glower at you with their missing arms, legs and faces. In the western part of the Forum, the Settiminus Severus Arch and the eight columns from Saturn's Temple next to the Vespasiano Temple are a must-see. The eastern part is dominated by the ruins, the ceiling and the arches from the Basilica di Costantino and the House of the Vestal Virgins. This was the residence of the Vestal Virgins, the priestesses of Vesta, in charge of maintaining the sacred fire within the Temple on the Forum Romanum. They were the only female priests within the roman religious system and vowed to live in chastity for the thirty years their tenure lasted. The punishment for breaking the vow of chastity was death by burial alive, the only way to kill a vestal without shedding her blood.

Walking downhill along one of the many streets that lead to unforgettable corners of Rome, the visitor comes to the Trevi Fountain, decorated by several artists of Bernini's school. This is the largest, most spectacular and most famous of the Roman fountains, with its statue of Neptune surrounded by fairytale figures and four statues representing the four seasons. Do not forget to throw your coin in the fountain, assuring your return to Rome.

Castel Sant' Angelo is reached by one of the world's most beautiful bridges; Bernini's angel-clad Pont Sant' Angelo; this strange, circular tank of a building was originally constructed as the Mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian. It was converted into a papal fortress in the 6th century, and is linked by underground passages to the Vatican palaces, which popes took advantage of in times of threat. It was used as a fortress and prison until 1870 and is now an interesting and atmospheric museum.

The Pantheon is one of the most magnificent architectural creations; a perfectly proportioned floating dome resting on an elegant drum of columns and pediments; which has survived almost intact up to the present day. Dedicated in 609 to St. Mary ad Martyres, it holds the tombs of the painter Raphael and of the Kings of Italy. Its extraordinary dome is the largest masonry vault ever built.

The most important monument of ancient Rome, the Coliseum or Flavian Amphitheatre, where bloody battles between gladiators and ferocious animals were held to the roaring screams of 50,000 Romans. The emperor Titus opened the Coliseum in AD 80 with 100 days of games in which 9,000 animals died. Everybody came to see the fights dignitaries, their guests, their slaves, a select number of common people and even foreigners, all to see fighting and blood as well as the colour and pageantry of public celebrations. The Coliseum façade was limestone, brick and concrete with marble facing, below the wooden arena floor, there was a complex set of rooms and passageways for wild beasts and other provisions for staging the spectacles. Eighty walls radiate from the arena and support vaults for passageways, stairways and the tiers of seats. A canvas roof called the velarium was raised and lowered by a specially trained team of Roman sailors. Deceased gladiators and animals killed in exhibitions at the Coliseum had their own exit called the Libitinarian Gate after Libitina, the goddess of funerals.

A stroll down the west bank of the Tiber river will lead you among the labyrinthine alleys of Trastevere, a picturesque medieval area that escaped grand developments which changed the face of central Rome. The heart of Trastevere is the lovely Roman Piazza Santa Maria, a charming place to wander filled with chatting locals, artists and tourists. The present day basilica, Church of Santa Maria, was built under Pope Innocentius II, out of materials plundered from the Baths of Caracalla. Beautiful marbles and sculptures can be admired in the portico, as well as inscriptions which originate from inside the basilica or from the catacombs. The steps surrounding the pretty central fountain are a popular hang-out spot. The Museum of Rome in Trastevere contains original documents and reconstruction of environments illustrate the everyday life in Rome in the last centuries of a papal power. Rome's principal foreign-language cinema is located here, as well as countless restaurants, popular with both Romans and tourists. Rome's botanic gardens are also located here, between the Gianicolo hill and the Tiber. Since the late nineteenth century the garden has belonged to Rome University.

The enormous white marble monument at the Piazza Venezia was built as a tribute to the first King of a united Italy, Victor Emmanuel II, it is also considered as the altar of the Italian land. An enormous flight of steps, flanked with winged lions and two bronze 'Vittorie', leads to the altar. In the middle of this monument there is the gigantic equestrian statue of King Victor Emmanuel II, realized in bronze. Behind, the monument shows a grandiose porch with columns 15 metres high and two colossal bronze quadrigae with winged 'Vittorie'.

Has someone dared you to prove that you are perfectly sincere? Then go to the portico of the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, in [[Piazza della Bocca della Verit

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